Caroline Norbury OBE stepping down as Chief Executive of Creative UK
// Caroline Norbury // creative industries // Creative UK // policy
National membership body for cultural and creative industries to recruit new Chief Executive, as organisation heads into new chapter
Today, Monday 8 September, Creative UK has announced that Caroline Norbury OBE will step down as Chief Executive by March 2026.
Caroline, who has dedicated her career to championing the cultural and creative industries, is the founding Chief Executive of Creative UK. The organisation was established in 2021, when Creative England (also founded by Caroline) merged with the Creative Industries Federation.
During her tenure, Caroline has led Creative UK through a period of growth and development. Since its inception, Creative UK group has invested over £100m into creative SMEs across the UK. It now represents hundreds of members in its network – accounting for every creative subsector – and supports more than 800 creative businesses a year through its programmes, including Create Growth Programme, Creative Enterprise and Filming in England. With strong links into UK Government, Creative UK has cemented its position as a powerful advocacy voice for the sector.
Caroline is due to officially step back from Creative UK in March 2026. Recruitment for a new Chief Executive is due to commence from late September 2025, supported by people advisory firm, GatenbySanderson.
In the interim, Creative UK will be led by Managing Director Laura Turner Laing.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Caroline said: “The purpose of establishing Creative UK was to build a sustainable organisation which delivered real impact for the cultural and creative industries. Five years on, I am so proud of our achievements.
“From our advocacy work to our investment strategy and impactful programmes – it has been a privilege to lead an organisation that shouts loudly for change whilst putting our money where our mouth is: connecting creatives to investment, backing brilliant creative talent whilst simultaneously championing the value of the cultural and creative industries to build both economic and social prosperity.
“With a highly skilled senior leadership team in place – and an exceptional board to back them – I am looking forward to putting my energy into new ventures and stepping back, knowing that Creative UK will only go from strength to strength in the future. I will always be a passionate cheerleader for the UK’s creative sector, and I am looking forward to supporting a new leader take this wonderful, impactful organisation to its next stage.”
Belinda Budge, Chair of Creative UK, said: “Much like Caroline, Creative UK is one of a kind: driven by purpose and guided by impact. It is Caroline’s expertise, insight and vision as a founding Chief Executive that have made this organisation what it is today – a champion for the sector, and a changemaker for creatives. For that, we are thankful. Caroline is an exceptional leader and will always have our appreciation.
“Caroline leaves Creative UK in strong standing. During her tenure, the organisation has invested over £100m into businesses across the UK, strengthened partnerships across the country, and convened its members to create a manifesto for the Creative Industries, with several recommendations already adopted.
“As this chapter closes, I look forward to supporting the Executive Leadership Team in appointing a new Chief Executive for this important organisation. With a strong team and network in place, Caroline has built a legacy that will last. I know the next leader in post will be keen to support our wonderful team as we continue to deliver change with creativity at its heart.”
Notes to Editors
Recruitment for the Chief Executive position will be advertised from late September, and will be led by GatenbySanderson in conjunction with Creative UK.
About Caroline Norbury:
Caroline Norbury, OBE is the founding Chief Executive of Creative UK. Dedicated to championing the creative industries, Creative UK invests in and supports creative ideas, talent and businesses, harnessing the power of the creative sector to build a fairer, more prosperous world. Creative UK has leveraged over £100m into creative businesses and projects across the country and uses its extensive membership and networks as a change maker and advocate for a world where creativity is valued and recognised as a driving force of our future.
Caroline began her career working in community arts before becoming a film and TV producer, focusing on supporting new talent and those whose voices had traditionally been absent from mainstream media and storytelling.
A member of BAFTA and the Royal Society of Arts, Caroline sits on the Creative Industries Council and is on the Board of Trustees for Aardman Animation. Caroline is a founding board member of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Agency, (CIISA) and Chairwoman of the cross-industry “Roundtable” group focused on reducing bullying, harassment, and discrimination in the Creative Sector. Caroline also served a nine-year term as a trustee of the PRS Foundation, supporting the development of new music and musicians, and was previously Chairwoman of The Music Works, a small charity in Gloucestershire supporting young people in challenging circumstances to have better lives through music. She was recently appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire and has two honorary doctorates from the University of Essex and Arts University Bournemouth.
About Creative UK:
Creative UK is the national membership body for the Cultural and Creative Industries. We exist to champion creativity in its widest form – representing world-leading organisations from sectors as diverse as advertising, animation, architecture, broadcasting, crafts, design, digital, education, fashion, games, heritage, museums, music, performing arts, photography, publishing, theatre, TV, visual art and more.
We are an independent not-for-profit, which uses the insight and experience of our members, partners and the businesses we work with to help shape relevant government policy and advocate for meaningful social and economic change right across the UK.
Our vision is a world where creativity is valued and recognised as the driving force for our future. We’re so passionate about this that we put our money where our mouth is: through own landmark investment funds, we’ve directly invested millions of pounds into creative businesses over the last decade.
Our team is based across the UK, and we work closely with Local and Combined Authorities to support creative talent, whilst delivering hands-on support – spanning business diagnostics, mentoring and investment readiness.
Our Filming in England service is a dedicated and bespoke production service to feature film and high-end TV productions looking to film in England, outside of London.
